Joe Rogan has been accused of “spreading Russian propaganda” by a Ukrainian boxer after he claimed that the leaders of that country and the United States risked starting World War Three.
On Friday’s episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the podcast host said Joe Biden’s decision to allow Kyiv to hit Russian territory with its long-range missiles was “nuts”.
Wladimir Klitschko, the former world heavyweight champion, challenged Rogan in a video message on social media, saying he was broadcasting “Putin’s propaganda” on his show.
“You talk about these American weapons being sent to Ukraine, which you believe will lead to the Third World War, you are repeating Russian propaganda. Putin’s Russia is in trouble, so Putin wants to threaten you and people like you,” said Klitschko.
Joe Rogan, left, Donald Trump’s spokesperson – Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
In an apparent reference to Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again”, Klitschko told Rogan, a supporter of the president-elect, that Putin wanted to make America “not great, but quiet”.
“Great America is not an America that abandons countries that defend freedom with their lives,” Klitschko told the athlete and UFC commentator, before renewing his invitation to the podcast to speak “like free people”.
Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir’s brother, is helping to protect the Ukrainian capital as mayor of Kyiv – Global Images Ukraine
Vitali KlitschkoWladimir’s brother, was also a professional boxer and is now the mayor of Kyiv. Both brothers are enlisted in the Ukrainian military.
Rogan returned to Klitschko’s video, re-sharing it with the caption: “Does this make sense to anyone or just trying to get on the podcast?”
Recently, Rogan admitted that “it was wrong for Putin to go into Ukraine” but argued that Mr. Biden should not be allowed to escalate the war after Americans voted him out of office.
“Now they are launching missiles into Russia. How are you allowed to do that on your way out? Rogan said. “Everything has a pumpkin.”
“Zelensky says Putin is scared. F— you, man. F— you people. You people are about to start World War Three,” he added.
@Klitschko
Referring to Ukraine’s use of US and British-supplied long-range missiles in strikes last week, Rogan said “the whole thing is a proxy war … f—— crazy”, echoing the Kremlin’s description of Nato. using violence in Ukraine to fight a war with Russia.
The Joe Rogan Happenings podcast, launched in 2009, is the most popular audio show in the US, with an average of 11 million listeners per episode.
Mr Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, said last week that Mr Biden was trying to cause a bigger conflict before his father – who has repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine “one day” – returns to office.